Emily I. Thomas Wakeland

Emily I. Thomas Wakeland
(March 16, 1935 – September 7, 2021)

Emily Irene Thomas-Wakeland , 86, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 8:13 p.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2021 in HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, IL.

Private family services will be held Monday, September 13, 2021, at Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL, with Rev. Linda Trent officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Fourth Street United Methodist Church or the Shelbyville Memorial Sunken Garden and mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 North Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.

Emily was born on March 16, 1935, in Shelbyville, IL, the daughter of James and Ruth (Merry) Donald.  She attended Shelbyville High School. Emily married Omer “Bub” Thomas on December 1, 1951.  He passed away on April 25, 2000.  Emily began working at Sta-Rite in Shelbyville and went on to work as a switchboard operator for Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company. She later worked at Johnston’s IGA in Shelbyville and most recently was the manager at Dollar General in Shelbyville. She married Lloyd Wakeland on May 15, 2013, and he preceded her in death on March 24, 2020. She was a member of Fourth Street United Methodist Church and the V.F.W. Auxiliary Post #4829. She enjoyed reading, traveling, needlepointing, dancing, playing Mexican Dominoes, and spending time with her grandkids.

Emily is survived by her son, Steven Omer “Steve” Thomas of Shelbyville, IL; daughters, Deborah Sue “Debbie” Thomas of Shelbyville, IL, Carol Marlene Elam (Joe) of Mendota, IL, and Terri Lynn Thomas of Shelbyville, IL; step-son, Tracy Wakeland (Jennifer) of Maroa, IL; four grandchildren, Josh Christner, Kretia Macias (Ray), Jennifer Billingsley (Chris), and Justin Elam (Nicki); and five great grandchildren, Isaac and Lucas Macias, and James, Andrew, and Asher Billingsley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bub Thomas; husband, Lloyd Wakeland; brothers, James “Dooley” Donald, Jr., David Donald, and John  Donald; and sister, Ruth Knudsen.